Neither has the attorney general or other members of the executive branch.

But even against a backdrop of anemic state revenues, there is bipartisan sentiment among lawmakers that the salaries are out of line with the office-holders' duties and with the salaries of other elected officials.

Democratic state Sen. Pat Steadman plans to carry legislation next session to hike salaries for the executive branch, but he hasn't yet decided whether to include a pay raise for state legislators, who earn $30,000 annually.

"I'm still considering how far to go with this, but at the minimum I am looking at raising the pay of the five constitutional officers," the Denver lawmaker said.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper makes $90,000 a year, the lowest among neighboring states, although Colorado has the second-highest population.

Attorney General John Suthers makes $80,000, the second-lowest in the nation and $50,000 less than the lowest-paid district attorneys statewide.

"Something needs to be done," Suthers said. "We're not just low anymore. We're off the radar."

The Colorado Springs Republican wouldn't benefit from a pay increase because the state constitution prevents an elected official's salary from being raised or lowered while that person is in office. Suthers is term-limited and can't run for re-election in 2014.

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And Steadman said he plans to craft the bill so that office-holders who win re-election in 2014 wouldn't be eligible for the raise either. Only successful challengers and the new attorney general would get the pay increase.

Steadman is using as a guideline the salaries paid to Colorado's judicial branch. The chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court receives $142,708, while the chief judge of the Court of Appeals receives $137,201, according to the judicial department.

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2012 file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert makes remarks during his celebration speech at the Utah State GOP election night watch party in Salt Lake City. An independent commission is recommending that the Utah governor's salary be raised by 36 percent to $150,000 a year. It would be the first significant raise in a decade. It would also bump up the Utah governor s salary of $109,900 up from the 12th-lowest in the country to the 12th-highest. (Rick Bowmer, Associated Press)

"When you consider that the chief justice is the chief executive officer of the judicial branch of government, and the governor is the chief of the executive branch, we should have a more commensurate salary," Steadman said.

The legislature in 1997 boosted pay for executive-branch officers by $20,000 each and increased legislative pay from $17,500 to $30,000. The increase went into effect in 1999.

In his last year in office, 2006, then-Gov. Bill Owens pushed for a pay increase for the executive branch beginning in 2007. Democratic leaders, pointing to the economy, declined — and no bill was introduced.

Owens pointed out that Suthers took a $62,000 pay cut in 2005 when he resigned as Colorado's U.S. attorney to take the state attorney-general post. Suthers was appointed to fill a vacancy.

The secretary of state, treasurer and lieutenant governor currently receive $68,500.

Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler created a firestorm when he took office in 2011 and announced that the pay was so low he was considering moonlighting at his former law firm, which specializes in election law. He scrapped the idea.

Suthers and Treasurer Walker Stapleton hold outside jobs, but there has been little controversy because those posts are not viewed as potential conflicts of interest with their elected positions.

Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia holds two jobs and receives two salaries. He also serves as the director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, a cabinet position that normally would pay $146,040. His cabinet pay is reduced by $68,500.

State Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, said he would support a raise for the executive branch because members are "woefully undercompensated," but he doesn't support an increase for legislators.

But former state Sen. Dave Schultheis said it's time. The Colorado Springs Republican, known for his conservative fiscal positions, has long advocated that legislative pay be boosted and tied to cost-of-living increases.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

"These legislators are sacrificing quite a bit as it is, being away from their families," he said. "Having the pay remain at the 1999 level is not appropriate."